Suppose all of Earth's water was poured into 100 squares, each the same size.

All of Earth's water as 100 squares: 97 blue, 2 white, 1 green.

Nearly all of Earth's water is salt water in the ocean.

Most of the fresh water is frozen in ice caps and glaciers, or under the ground.

Is a blue square fresh water? No, 97 squares are salt water in the ocean.

Is a white square fresh water? Yes, 2 squares are fresh water, frozen in ice caps and glaciers.

Is the green square fresh water? Yes, 1 square is fresh water we can reach, nearly all of it under the ground.

The lakes and the rivers together hold less than 1 square, a thin slice of the green square.

So the lakes and the rivers hold the least water of all five places.

The class's table: where Earth's water is, in squares out of 100.